An Edward Weston retrospective at the Longmont Museum brings the ordinary to life

Edward Weston holds an upper berth in the pantheon of modern American photography, and it's easy to see why. A solid Modernist who began working in the early twentieth century, Weston -- who was also a great technician in the darkroom -- breathed life into inanimate objects and places, turning nautilus shells, peppers and rippled dunes, with their natural curves and shadows, into sensual images seething with inner beauty. And when he took on the human form itself, well -- look out! Just as his still lifes and landscapes anthropomorphize shapes, Weston's nudes picture humanity in its most lovely, natural state.

To see a Weston is a visual treat, and 115 of them will be on display in Edward Weston: Life Work, which opens tomorrow at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center; a public reception kicks off the exhibit at 7 p.m. Saturday. Life Work will run through July 22; the museum is open daily, and museum director Wesley Jessup will lead walk-throughs every Tuesday at noon. Admission is $5 to $7 (children ages eleven and under are free).

Here's a look at some of the classic Weston photographs you'll see:

All images courtesy Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg

Edward Weston: "Self Portrait," 1908.

Edward Weston: "Two Pitchers," 1926.

Edward Weston: "Chambered Nautilus--Halved," 1927.

Edward Weston: "Eggs and Slicer," 1930.

Edward Weston: "Pepper No. 30," 1930.

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Susan Froyd is a Denver native who studied English, Art and finally Journalism at Metro State University, and also managed movie theaters and sold art supplies before landing at Westword in 1992. Decades later, she still feels privileged to serve the vibrant artists in all disciplines who make our town a more engaging place to live.